Hairpin dispenser



July 8, 1952 B. STEINBERG i HAIRPIN DISPENSER Filed April 1l, 1949 Patented Julyk 8, 1952 omen" *Mits[Tl i vimmens DISPENSER Betty Steinberg, Beverly nais, cani. Application April 111, i949, serial No. 86,795

' s s l Y 15 Claims.

The` present invention relates to an improved dispenser for hair :.pins, b'o'bby pins, paper clips andthe like, andhas .particular applicability to dispensing hair `pins Aand bobby pins;V .It is desirable that hair pins, bobbypins,` and the like be maintained in a predetermined posi-A tion, Abeing a readily accessible one, and fof such nature that there is little likelihood that the appearance of a womans dressing .table might be impaired' in day to day use of such article'syand such that rthe necessity of searchingfor.. such flost pins is greatly reduced. o r The dispenser asv shownl and claimed herein is generally. of the type' shown and ,claimedV in my co=pending patent application, 'Serial No.l1,930, filed `August 2, 1948, now Patent No.- 2,544,114,

.issued'.March G, 1951, Yand .incorporates.fsmall magnets `which' are varranged td dispense hair -.pins, bobby pins and the like froma pile in'whioh i they are randomly disposed.V In'laccordance kwith 'the present dispenser, howevenzit is not necessary that the Yhair, pins be of special'magnetic construction, and, kin fact, one.' of ther important features iof the present invention is thatc'on'- ventional presentrday .hair pins' and bobbypins may be dispensed from my improved dispenser. f Itis Ytherefore an object of the presentfinven- ,l tion to 'provide animproved arrangement whereby 'the laiores'aid desirable results fma'y .be obtained. Y

Another kobject ofthe present invention is to lprovide* a dispenser of this character whichin'- corporates magnetic means for dispensing hairpins but which does not require for its operation specially magnetized or fabricated hairpins lor rbobby pins, the,di'spenserbeing effective to dispense hair pins, .bobbypms and the likeof standard wire', construction.

Still anotherobjectgof the present invention is tor provide Yan improved dispenser arranged to dispense, inorderly fashion, hair pins,v bobby pins and the like disposed in random fashion;

The features of the ypresent invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particu'- larity rin* the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, 'together with further `objects and ad- ,vantagesthere'o may be best understood byrefere'nce to the `following description taken in 'connection with the accompanying 'drawings in which: l

Figure 1 is a perspective-'view of a hairpin dispenser ,embodying featuresfof the present invention, and showsthe relationofthe partsoi the dispenser when and'as the attracted hair. pins (Cl. S12- 192) l are being movedout of their individual comparton the line 2-'2 of Figure 1,

ments to a raisedposition,

Figure 2 isa sectional View taken substantially Figure '3 is a view similar to Figure '2 but with the hai-r pin extractor moved toits uppermost position, v

Figure ifis a view similar to Figure 2, but shows Y the hair pin extractor element moved to its lower- I adaptedto 'rest upon a flat surface-such as a table or dresser top.l The base It has' anixed thereto arpairf generally vertically* extending legs or standards l5, I5, each ofwhich has mounted thereon a pair of oppositely disposed generally .U-shaped' tracks yI'l,' I8 respectively, within which :the corresponding vertically disposed metal strips I9, 20 'of the element I2 ymove and are 'guided in the up and down Ymovement of such element I2. These strips I9, 2U are affixed at their upper ends to the crossbar v22 of the element I2, and have the handle member 23 ,tlfiereon for convenientr manual grasping and moving up and down. v The crossbar 22,v of non-magnetic material such as Bakelite or the like, has imbedded therein a plurality of cylindrical Alnico magnets 25,the lower ends of which project below the crossbar l22 within which` they are imbedded. These magnets 25 are adapted to register with the corresponding hairpin openings 2*'6, and to be lmnidiy ratelfy above and to contact the relatively stationary plastic plate29v within which such apertures 26- are form-ed when the element I`2 is initslowermost position.` VIn other words, the stationary plate'29 is aiixed to the upstanding standards I5, I6 'and serves asa stop member to limit downward movement of the reciprocal element I2. Upward movement'of such element *|12 maybe limited, using any one o Vdilierentexpediente, and is, for example, limited by laterally extend-v ing pins 21 on the plate .Zeengag'ing a portion of the track I8 at the upward end oi travlof. the element I2. In'other words, vthe pin 21 entends through a slot 36 inthe guide member` I8, and at 3 the upper end of travel of the element l2 the pin 21 is at its uppermost position in such slot 30, to thereby restrain further upward movement of the element I2.

The pins 2, one of which is on both the plate I9 and plate 29, serve an additional important function, namely, to serve as a pivot for the spring biased hair pin stripp-er element 34, which is pivotally mounted on the pins 2l, and which is normally biased inwardly in the plane of the drawing sheet in Figure 1 by small torque springs 35. These springs 35 are axed at a point intermediate their respective ends to the crossbar 22, and have their stressed free ends in engagement with the hair pin stripper element 34 to thereby tend to normally bias the element 34 against the magnets 25. Stripper element 34 is a generally inverted U-shaped element with its vertically disposed legs pivoted on the pins 21, and has the upturned ange 34A adapted to contact the magnets 25 to thereby serve as a stop member for pivotal movement of the element 34.

It is noted that this stripper element 34 is thus mounted on the legs I9, 25 and is thus movable with the element I2.

Although the stripper element 34 moves up and down with the element I2, it is automatically moved laterally with respect to the magnets 25 thereon, to automatically strip the hair pins Iii from the magnets 25 when and as the element I2 assumes its uppermost vertical position.

In other words, in the lowermost position of the element I2 (shown in Figure 4) the stripper element 34 is displaced laterally with respect to the magnet 25 to allow such magnet 25 to engage an attracted hair pin IU; but, in the uppermost position of the element I2, represented approximately lin Figure 3, the stripper element 34 is moved laterally with respect to the magnet 25 to cause the hair pin I to be displaced to the left out of the path of subsequent downward movement of the magnet 25.

This automatic movement of the stripper element 34 from a relative position shown in Figure 4 to a relative position shown in Figure 3 is provided by a cam action.Y This cam action is perhaps'best illustrated in Figure 2, and is produced by engagement of the legs of the stripper element'34 with a projection 42 (Figure 5) of the stationary plate 29. It is noted that the stripper element 34 is normally pressed into engagement with such projection 42 by the torque springs 35 (Figure 1) and the legs of .the stripper element 34 are so shaped with respect to the abutment 42 that the above mentioned desirable movement of the stripper elem-ent 34 is automatically ob- -tained when and as the element I2 is reciprocated up and down.

The stationary plate 29 serves also as a closure member for the compartmented pivoted tray 50.

This tray 50 is movable from the full line position shown in Figure 2 to the dotted line position shown in the same figure about the shaft I, which has its opposite endsafflXed to the standards I5, I6. This compartmented pivoted tray 50 with the individual compartments I I therein is preferably made of plastic to allow vision of the number of hair pins remaining in such compartmentsv Il. In order to replenish the supply of hair pins in such compartments Il,`the unit 5D, as a whole, is pulled outwardly to its dotted line position shown in Figure 2 by grasping andpulling the attached handle52 outwardly. Suitable stop means. may be provided for limiting such outward movement of the tray 50 to its position shown in Figure 2, wherein it is in a position of stable equilibrium. Such stop means may, for example, comprise a pin El) attached to and eX- tending inwardly from the standard I5 into an arcuate motion limiting slot 6I in the side wall of the movable tray 50.

In its inward position in Figure 2 the tray 5G is also in a position of stable equilibrium abutting against the inclined stationary plastic wall 64 mounted on the standards -I5,vl6 lby gluing or by mechanical fastening elements.

It is noted that the'stationary plate 29 has its plane mounted substantially perperdicular to the plane of the back plate 64, and is thus inclined downwardly and rearwardly for an important purpose, to thereby provide an inclined shelf 26A immediately behind the apertures 25 upon which the pronged ends of the hair pins may rest, it being noted that originally all of the hair pins, which are of standard construction, are disposed in the compartments Il with their U-shaped bends upwardly for attraction by the magnets 25. Such rearwardly inclined shelves 26A immediately behind the apertures 25 have raised .abutments 26B formed between such adjacent shelf portions to restrict movement of the pronged ends of the hair pins engaging the shelf portions 26A.

Preferably, the front side of the inclined back plate 64, adapted to engage the legs of the hair pin; is suitably roughened, as for example, by scoring to thereby increase the frictional resistance between a hair pin and the inner surface of the plateV 64 which such hair pin contacts.

. In operation of the device described, originally hair pins are vertically disposed in the compartments Il with the U-bends of such hair pins uppermost, the hinged tray 50 being moved toits dotted line position shown in Figure 2 to effect such charging of the device. Thereafter, the tray 50 is moved to its full line position from where hair pinsare dispensed one by one through the slots 26 in the stationary plate 29, which, incidentally, serves as a .cover member for the open mouth of the tray 50. The hair pins 20 are dispensed from .such apertures 26 one by one by reciprocating the hair pin dispensing element I2. Y In the loading of the device, as described immediately above, the element I2 is preferably in its uppermost position. Then the element I2 is moved downwardly to a position wherein the magnets 25 are effective to attract a hair pin and to pull the same upwardly through the slot 26, which is so shaped to allow the passage of but one hair pin. Thus, in the lowermost position of the element I2, a hair pin clings to each one of the magnets 25. Thereafter, the element I2 is raised, carrying upwardly therewith the hair pins clinging to the magnets 25, as shown in Figure 1.

As the element `I2 is moved further upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 65 in Figure 1, and'further upwardly inthe direction Vindicated by the arrowr 61 in Figure 2, ther spring biased stripper element 34 is gradually allowed to move to the left in Figure 2, under the influence of the torque spring 35 (Figure l) to later assume the vposition shown in Figure 3, wherein .it is effective to displace a hair pin in the direction indicated by the arrow- 68 in Figure 3 to a position wherein such displaced hair pin is out of the path of movement of the magnet 25 when subsequently such magnet 25 is again moved downwardly. When such hairpin I 0 is being displaced toits positionv shown in Figure 3, the prongs at the lower end thereof are also, of course, displaced on the pin.

and arefpositioned above the rearwardly 'and downwardly inclined shelf .portions 26A adjacent the slots 26. l

rWhenr and asthe magnet 25v thus *descends from its uppermost position, the upp'errendr of the hair pin I contactsthe cylindricalsidefof the-magnet 25 to hold the upper end of the displaced pin in position, but, of course, the bottom end of the' pin I0 is prevented from moving downwardly due to its engagement with the shelf 26A, with the net result that when and as the magnety 25 'is being moveddownwardly the displaced -pin It remains relatively stationary. Consequentlmwhen the element I2 is in its lowermost position, asf-shownv in Figure 4, the upper end ofthe displaced pin I0 'is in convenient position for manual're'rnoval-from the-device. v

After all of such displaced-pins I0 are removed,

thenA downwardly to again provide conveniently Y accessible hair pins in the same position as the displaced hair pin I0 shown in Figure 4. i

While the device is described specincally in connection with hair pins, it is apparent that likewise the device may be used to dispense other types -of pins such as bobby pins, in which case the shape of the slots 2B is altered to assure single le feeding of the bobby pins therethrough, and

similarly other clearances are suitably altered,

all in accordance with one skilled in the art using the teachings provided herein.

It is noted that the back vplate 64 'extends upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the base I4, and that the magnetic structure, i. e., the element I2, is movable in a path substantially' parallel .to the front face of the back plate t4, with of" the vvback plate E4, on the other hand, being substantially equal and slightly greater Vthan the `effective thickness of the pin I0 whereby such Simultaneously, the lower endl of the shifted pin I0 is moved rearwardly to a position above the shelf portions 26A to bear thereagainst when and as the magnetic structure I2 is moved to its lowermost position, during which the associated magnet exerts .an orienting effect on the dispensed pin I0.

Preferably, the front face of the back plate E4 is'tilted, as shown in the drawings, because the lower pronged endsof. the shifted pin is more inclined to-be positionedabove the shelf members 26A; this isdue tothe action of gravityforces While the particular 'embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications maybe made without departing from this invention in itsv broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims isV to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope Aof this invention.

v I claim:

LA hairpin dispenser of the character described comprising: acompartment within which wmagnetizable hairpins are placed, said compartment having an aperturedportion through which the element I2 is again moved upwardly 'and asoma@ said "hairpin's may be passed upwardly 'in single le only, 'a magnetic structure movable' Yin'apredetermined-path to a position adjacent and above said apertured portion to permeate said apertured portion with magnetism, said apertured portion t having a cross section area slightlylarger than the effective-cross sectional area of Y one of said hairpins through which'said hairpi-ns -may be withdrawnand means voperated inaccordance with movement of said magnetic structure for removing the hairpins therefrom, last said mentioned means comprising means pivotally mounted on said magnetic structure and automatically vl'rrioved transverselyof the longitudinal axis of said hairpin near the upper end-of magnetic structure movement. v e t 2. A hairpin dispenser of the characte1` described comprising: a compartment for the storage of magnetizable hairpins, anaperture in the upper end Vof said compartment through which said hairp-ins are adapted` to pass one iat a time only, aV magnetic structurev movable from yan elevated position toa `loweredy position adjacent said aperture to` permeate'k saidgaperturel'with magnetism and to attract'andgto'lift upwardly through said aperture said magnetizable objects, said aperture having a cross sectional area slightly larger than the effective cross sectional area of one of said hairpins, a` stripping bar pivotally mounted on said magnetic structure and movable therewith in a vdirection transverse to the longitudinal axisof a hairpin which is attracted .to said magnetic structure, said stripping bar the spacing between such magnetic' structure or Y. element I2, on the one hand, and such front face being associated with means for automatically moving said stripping bar with respect to said `magnetic'structure vat said elevated position to strip the hairpins Yattracted by ysaid magnetic structure to allow said magnetic structurefto again descend to its lowered position. v 3. A hairpin dispenser of y the character described having a compartment for the storageV of magnetizable hairpins, an aperture inthe upper end of said compartment through which said hairpins' are adapted to pass, one at a Ltime Vonlyfa magnetic structure' movable from an elevated positicn to a lowered position adjacent said aperture to permeate said. aperture with magnetism and to attract and to lift a hairpin through said aperture., said aperture having a cross 'sectional area slightly larger than the effective cross sectional area of one of said hairpins, and means pivotally mounted on said magnetic structure automatically operated in a Vdirection transverse to the longitudinal axis of a hairpin attracted by said magnetic structure to strip an object from said magnetic structure when it is in its uppermost position to allow said magnetic structurel to again 'descend to its lowered position to again lift one of said objects.

4. A'dispenser of the character described vcoinprising: a baseadapted to rest on a flat horizontal surface, a pair of upstanding. standards extending upwardly from said base, a pivoted compartmented tray Vor bin pivotally mounted with respect to said base andntiltable inwardly and outwardly with respect to said upstanding standards, an apertured cover plate mounted with respect to said standards with its plate extending generally downwardly and rearwardly' withjrespect to the supporting plate of said base, said cover plate forming a cover for said' tiltable bin structure when it is in its innermost position, aA magnetic structure guided for generally 'verticalmovement on said standards, said base having mounted thereon a back plate, the iront surfacej ofivhich back plate extends generally upwardly and rearwardly with respect to said base, thegpath of movement of -said magneti-c structure being generally `parallel to said front surface, said cover plate having a shelf portion thereon .between an apertured portion and said backplate, a pivotally mounted stripper bar pivotally mount- -ed on said magnetic structure and automatically comprising: a receptacleA for vertically disposed `magnetizable objects, a base supporting said receptacle, a back plate mounted on said base with its front plane extendinggenerally upwardly and ,rearwardly -withrespectto said base, a magnetic structure movable. generally vparallel with said ,frontplana said vmagnetic structure being movable to a lowered position adjacent an aperture in Asaid receptacle 'to attract and to lift a magneti'zed object up from said receptacle and through said aperture to an elevated position upon subsequent movement of said magnetic structure, a shelf disposed between said aperture and said front plane, and means operated automatically when said magnetic structure is near its uppermostr position for displacing aV lifted magnetized object laterally and rearwardly of said magnetic structure to a position wherein'the lower end of said magnetized object is above said. shelf and the uppermost end of said lifted object,f is out of the path of movement of said magneti-c structureto allow subsequent downward movement of said magnetic structure.

6. Aliairpin dispenser of the character described. comprising: abase member, a tiltable compartmented bin structure tiltably mounted on said base, .the back wall of said bin structure Vagainst which magnetizable hairpins rest due to gravity forces thereon being aligned with and cooperating with a stationary apertured cover member throughwhich objects originally placed in said bin structure may pass one at a time, and a magnetic structure movable in a guided path .to and from the apertures in said cover member to permeate said apertured portion of the cover member with magnetism, said apertured portion having a crosssectional area slightly larger than the effective cross sectional area of one of said hairpins.

7. In a hairpin dispenser of the character described, a base with a compartment therein into which magnetizable hairpins may be stored, said compartment being at least partially enclosed by an apertured cover member, a magnetic structure lrelatively movable to a position adjacent the aperture in said cover member to permeate said aperture with magnetism to attract and to lift upwardly through said aperture one of the magnetizable hairpiiis originally stored therein, said aperture having `a cross sectional area slightly larger than the effective cross sectional area of one' of said hairpins to allow only one hairpin at a time to pass therethrough, and means pivotally mounted on said magnetic structure effective when said magnetic structure is moved to an uppermost'positionto shift the lifted magnetizable hairpin therefrom and to allow said mag- .netic' means toagain' descend to'V a position adjacent said aperture, said compartment being tiltably mounted on said gbase, with a walll of said compartment against which magnetizable hairpins rest due to gravity forces thereon, being aligned with the apertured portion in said cover member.

8. In a dispenser of thecharacter described, a base having a rear plate mounted thereon with the front face of said plate extending generally upwardly and rearwardly, a magnetic structure spaced from said front face and movable generally parallel tor said v`front face, a receptacle adapted to store magnetizable objects,saidreceptacle having atop cover member with an aperture therein to assure feeding in single iile of magnetizable objectstherethrough,.said cover member defininga shelfV disposed between said aperture and said back` plate, said magnetic structure being movable to a position adjacent said aperture to attract and to lift'through said aperture a` magnetizable object to an elevated position, and means automaticallyoperated when said magnetic structure is moved to a position near its uppermost positionjfor shifting .the upper end of said magnetizable object to a .position between said front faceand said magneticI structure out of the path of subsequent downward movement of said magnetic structure.

9. The invention dened in claim 8, characterized by the fact that said space between said front face and said magnetic `structure is comparable to the effective thickness of said article whereby said article is retained therebetween as the magnetic structure descends.

l0. In a dispenserxof thecharacter described, a receptacle for magnetizable objects having jan upper cover element with an aperture therethrough, a back plateextending upwardly and rearwardly with respect t0 the base of said device, a shelf member disposed between saidaperture and said back. plate, a magnetic structure'movable generally vertically and substantially parallel with the plane of the front face of said back plate, the distance of separation of said magnetic structure and said front face being substantially equal and slightly greater than the effective thickness of said magnetizable. object, said magnetic structure incorporating a magnet depending downwardly therefrom and movable to a position adjacent said aperture to attract and to lift through said aperture a magnetized object, means automatically eifective when said magnetic structure is near its uppermost position for shifting the lifted magnetized object laterally from said magnet and out of the path of movement thereof into said space between said magnetic structure and said front face, said lshelf member being disposed forwardly-of a vertical plane passing through the`upper end-of said magnetizable object after itis .shifted laterally from said magnet wherebygravity forces acting on said shifted object 'tend to position the lower end of said object above said shelf member and kadjacent said frontjface of said back plate.

which said aperture has contiguous therewith a 10 Number 10 ledge engaging the lower end of the hairpin after 'it is withdrawn through said aperture. BETTY STEINBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 787,623 Hood Apr. 18, 1905 930,935 Burbank Aug. 10, 1909 

